Rishi Sowa has been living on a pile of garbage for over ten years. His <a href="http://inhabitat.com/brilliant-floating-hotel-allows-guests-to-explore-the-adriatic-sea-in-luxury/" target="_blank">new island</a>, Joysxee, in the Isla Mujeres, Mexico is a floating paradise supported by thousands of plastic bottles! A marvel made from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-with-envy-an-incredible-dress-made-of-thousands-of-upcycled-bottles/" target="_blank">plastic bottles</a>, discarded wood and planted vegetation, Sowa, with help from Scott Mader, hopes to expand his eco-paradise home, to also travel around on it and to have it be an example for other garbage islands.

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Rishi Sowa, Joysxee Island

Not far from Cancun, Sowa began constructing his first<a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-power-island-could-power-copenhagen-sustainably/" target="_blank"> island</a> in 1998. Collecting empty plastic bottles, plywood and bamboo <a href="http://inhabitat.com/washed-ashore-sculptures-of-marine-life-made-from-the-debris-that-endangers-them/" target="_blank">he’d find on the beach</a>, he built up the island to included a two story house and three beaches, with sand from a build up near the shore that was otherwise dredged to let boats through.

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Rishi Sowa, Joysxee Island

To keep the island cool, Sowa planted mangroves and other vegetation, which provided shade from heights up to 15 feet. His kitchen was equipped with a solar oven, and his bathroom included a self-composting toilet.

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Rishi Sowa, Joysxee Island

Sadly, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tornado-resistent-meadowlark-home-breaks-ground-in-greensburg-kansas/" target="_blank">Hurricane</a> Emily of 2005 swept his island away, turning his eco-home into rubble. Undeterred, he began building the next island, the current Joysxee. The new island is 25 meters in diameter, and floats atop bags of over 125,000 plastic bottles- all which Sowa has found in the trash.

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Rishi Sowa, Joysxee Island

The new island improves its eco-qualities, with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/deserted-uk-tin-mine-transformed-into-1-4mw-solar-power-plant/" target="_blank">solar panels</a>, which partly power a waterfall and river! A wave powered washing machine keeps his clothes clean and fresh, and three in-island ponds and mangroves help keep the island cool.

Through an ambitious <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scottmader/grand-launch-of-recycled-plastic-bottle-eco-art-is" target="_blank">Kickstarter </a>campaign, Sowa hopes to expand the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/treehouse-party-help-artist-benjamin-jones-paint-his-treehouse-this-weekend-in-nyc/" target="_blank">island</a>, and launch it out into the lagoon. Further, Sowa hopes to sail Joysxee around the world, and teach visitors that trash can be treasure- and even become paradise.
<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scottmader/grand-launch-of-recycled-plastic-bottle-eco-art-is" target="_blank">+ Support Joysxee on Kickstarter</a>

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Rishi Sowa, Joysxee Island

Rishi Sowa has been living on a pile of garbage for over ten years. His new island, Joysxee, in the Isla Mujeres, Mexico is a floating paradise supported by thousands of plastic bottles! A marvel made from plastic bottles, discarded wood and planted vegetation, Sowa, with help from Scott Mader, hopes to expand his eco-paradise home, to also travel around on it and to have it be an example for other garbage islands.